21 Things To Do In Sapporo With Kids
Sapporo is surprisingly super geared up towards activities for kids, and there is certainly no shortage of things to do that can be enjoyed by all of the family.
Quite a lot of attractions in Sapporo that are targeted at adults tend to still have activities and areas for kids within them as well, so you can still very much see all of the must visit places around Sapporo without their boredom escalating!
As locals living in Sapporo we’ve seen all of the best things to do with kids in Sapporo, to bring you this non exhaustive list of 21 things to do in Sapporo with kids.
21 Things To Do In Sapporo With Kids
1.Takino Suzuran Hillside Park
Location: 247 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
If you have access to a car during your trip, Takino is a must visit (although, it can still be accessed via public transport and takes around 1 hour by bus from the center of the city).
Whether you visit in the summer or winter, there’s something different going on here for kids. They have an incredible indoor play area which is open all year, and during the spring and summer, the outdoor slides are open and as shown below they have these giant red balls that you can run up the hill with and watch them roll down.
All of the activities are actually completely free for children, you just have to pay for parking if you drive to Takino, and adult entry into Takino during certain seasons (kids go free).
Here are just some of the other events/activities to know about during the year;
- In the winter it transforms into Takino Snow World (more about that below!)
- Tulip and lily of the valley festa – mid-late May
- Takino fireworks – June
- Takino summer vacation with summer outdoor activities – July-mid August
- Autumn leaves festival – October
2. Maruyama Zoo
Location: 3 Chome-1 Miyagaoka, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0959
Cost: Entry for adults at ¥800, ¥400 for high school students and junior high school students and younger go for free
Easily accessible by bus or subway from the center of Sapporo, Maruyama Zoo is a fab day out for kids and is relatively inexpensive.
They have approximately 140 species of animals and this zoo has the longest history in Hokkaido, it has the benefit of being positioned next to Maruyama Park which is lovely to explore throughout all of the seasons. They also have a small free snow tubing section during the winter for kids!
3. Round1 Spo-cha
Spo-cha Round1 location: 1 Chome-1-21 Kita 21 Johigashi, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 065-0021
If it’s a rainy day in Sapporo or you’re looking for something fun to entertain the kids from afternoon into the evening, I can’t recommend Spo-cha at Round1 enough. It offers unlimited games for 3 hours, it cost ¥2,890 / £13.50 each (for adults) and it is so much fun.
They have old school arcade games, go karting, roller skating, karaoke, sports games like pitching and putting and basketball, a relaxation area with comics and massage chairs and a place to grab some food and drinks to keep fuelled during your games.
The value for money is so great and if you have older kids you can let them roam around safely and explore the games as they wish. Not all Round1 branches offer spo-cha, but the location mentioned above is where we went and does offer it in Sapporo.
4. Karaoke
There’s no shortage of karaoke venues in Sapporo, and well, it’s a Japanese rite of passage during a holiday here! Most Round1 venues offer karaoke, with plenty more options in the Susikino area of Sapporo which can easily be accessed on the Namboku subway line.
Typically, you pay for a set amount of hours and you get a karaoke booth where you can order food and drinks direct to it, even if you use it as a way to rest for a couple hours during the day, it’s so much fun!
5. AOAO Sapporo Aquarium
Cost: Adults ¥2,200, junior ¥1,100, 3-6 years old ¥200, admission is free for children under 3 years of age. The evening session, entry at 5pm is slightly more expensive.
Conveniently located in central Sapporo, AOAO is an immersive, night-friendly urban aquarium downtown in the moyuk SAPPORO complex in the Tanukikoji Shopping Street.
From adorable penguins to unique fish, this charming aquarium is perfect for rainy day with kids in the city, with opening times from 10am-10pm daily (last entry 9pm).
6. Shiroi Koibito Park
Cost: Adults 800yen, Children (4-15 years old) 400yen, Children (0-3 years old) free.
Yes, there is a chocolate factory in Sapporo that you cannot miss during your visit! Shiroi Koibito cookies are the most well known biscuits of Hokkaido, two buttery biscuits sandwiched together with white chocolate, and they are absolutely delicious.
Whilst you can enter the gardens, gift shop and cafe for free, it’s definitely worth paying the entrance fee (you get a free cookie to try with your ticket) as there’s plenty of interactive activities for kids, and you can see straight into the factory as the cookies are being made.
Definitely recommend making a beeline for the cafe afterwards to try some chocolatey treats and Hokkaido milk soft serve ice cream.
7. Sapporo Satoland
Location: Okadama-cho 584-2, Higashi-ku, Sapporo
Sapporo Satoland is an amusement park located in Higashi-ku in Sapporo which allows visitors to experience what agriculture is like here in Hokkaido.
This unique attraction operates throughout the year, with the seasons offering a different experience when you visit. From spring to fall, many different flowers are in full bloom and visitors can take a walk and ride a locomotive bus or a carriage around the park.
From early May to early November, visitors can harvest potatoes, onions, and corns that Hokkaido is famous for. As winter falls, the entire facility turns into a snow-covered playground.
If you’re looking for something completely different to your standard kids attraction, then this is it!
8. Moerenuma Park
Location: 1-1 Moerenumakoen, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 007-0011
This park feels absolutely endless as it has viewing points, sports fields, objects and playground equipment which makes it an excellent place to visit for a morning or afternoon with the family.
During the summer, the fountain and wading pools are open for activities to help you keep cool throughout the warm and humid summer temperatures in Sapporo. It’s open daily from 7am-10pm and is free to park and enter.
9. Historical Village of Hokkaido
Location: Konopporo-50-1 Atsubetsucho, Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 004-0006
Cost: ¥1,000 for adults and free entry for junior high school students and younger.
Transport yourselves back in time with a visit to the quaint historical village of Hokkaido. This off the beaten track attraction is around 40 minutes by car from the city.
The village features a whole host of authentically, historical buildings in Japan that have been relocated here, from an old barbers shop to a college and horse drawn cart, there’s also an area for kids to play with toys from years gone by and there is so much to do!
During the holidays and occasions such as golden week they usually host additional activities, such as an opportunity to try historical Japanese fighting disciplines.
10. TV Tower
Cost: ¥1,200 for adults, ¥600 for elementary and junior high school students.
Set in Odori Park, the TV tower is an iconic spot in Sapporo and I don’t think it matters what age you are, it’s something that everyone will enjoy.
Ride the lift to the top and take in the staggering mountainous views that hug the city of Sapporo, no matter what season you visit Sapporo, you’re guaranteed a stunning, seasonal view.
There’s always something happening in Odori Park as well so you can explore what else there is to offer here. The Snow Festival takes place annually in February with other events happening during the course of the year such as Bon Odori summer festival, the lilac festival and the Munich Christmas Market.
11. Olympic Museum
Location: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0958
Cost: ¥670 for adults and free for junior high school students and younger.
There’s a lot of interesting museums to visit in Sapporo, and if your kids have an interest in sport, the Sapporo Olympic Museum should definitely be on your list.
Discover the history behind the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, take part in interactive sporting activities within the museum such as a bobsled simulation, and you can ride the ropeway to the top of the ski jump to take in the staggering views of the city. You can also walk back down the other side for a slower way to take in the views.
12. F Village
Location: １番地 F Village, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido 061-1116
Whilst F Village is on the outskirts of Sapporo in the Kitahiroshima area, if you have a car during your stay, I’d highly recommend adding this to your visiting schedule. F Village is the home of the Fighters, but you don’t even need to visit here during a match day, or in fact be interested in baseball as there is so much going on!
Start with some yummy pastries from Truffle Bakery (white truffle salt bread is a best seller and so good!), and more notably they have a huge family and kids zone with indoor and outdoor playgrounds (the outdoor play area is completely free to use), plus the F Village Adventure Park which has a 20m high swing and 200m aerial athletic course, so depending on your kids age, there’s something they will love.
For kids that do enjoy baseball, you can pay for a standard or premium tour where you can go onto the pitch, view the baseball clubhouse and so much more! Please note that the tours currently only operate in Japanese at present.
13. Dinosaur Kids Park
Location: 593 Teinehoncho, Teine Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-0029
Open during the winter, The Dinosaur Kids’ Park is a dedicated winter snow-play area in the Olympia Zone of Sapporo Teine Ski Resort, designed especially for young children and beginners.
Families can enjoy sledding, snow tubing, and a gentle beginner ski and snowboard slope, complete with a convenient magic carpet (snow escalator).
The park is filled with colourful dinosaur figures, while safety nets throughout the area help create a fun and secure environment for little adventurers.
14. Takino Snow World
If you’re visiting Sapporo with kids during the winter, any activity that involves snow will be warmly welcomed! As the snow arrives, Takino Suzuran Hillside Park transforms into a winter wonderland for the winter season. This is one of the best places for kids and beginner skiers and unlike some of the local ski slopes in Sapporo, you can rent all of the ski equipment and clothing here should you wish to go skiing during your trip, and you can just pay for your ski passes on the day. ¥1,360 for half a day, ¥2,040 for a day or you could pay per single ski lift if you wanted to.
They also have a completely free snow tubing area for kids and adults which is great fun. You can hire snow shoes for free to explore the area around Takino and walk to Ashiribetsu Falls where you might just see the falls completely frozen during the height of winter.
Parking is ¥500 but entry into Takino itself is completely free.
15. Mount Moiwa Ropeway
Cost: ¥2,100 for adults, ¥1,050 for kids.
If you want to see a different perspective of the city, catch the Mount Moiwa Ropeway to the top for breathtaking views of the city and surrounding area.
You can get some drinks and soft serve ice cream at the top and there’s some fun photo spot opportunities too. I recommend catching the ropeway up for sunset and staying to watch as the night falls and the city comes alight with lights from below.
16. Nakajima Park
It’s all about getting a good balance between attractions, nature and free activities when holidaying with kids, and the choice of parks to visit is plentiful in Sapporo.
Nakajima Park is just one of those peaceful retreats which is in close proximity to the center, a gorgeous walk with a Japanese garden, a small playground for kids, rowing boats (available late spring, summer, early autumn) and plenty of benches that you can sit on and take in the scenery.
There is also a fab sandwich shop just outside the park called Hasamiya which does take out, our fave sandwich place in Sapporo and it’s ideal for a quick and easy lunch.
17. Fantasy Kids Resort Shin-Sapporo
Cost: You do need to pay for the annual membership to get access which is ¥400 per family, and then you pay for weekdays or holidays which varies in costs, check out the Fantasy Resort website for up to date information on pricing.
This fun indoor play area is ideal for kids of all ages and there is so much packed under one roof here! From a fluffy area, sandbox, toy square, fashion dress up to an arcade game area, there’s endless play opportunities here which would make a morning, or afternoon easy to pass by.
This indoor, all weather attraction can be found inside the Sunpiaza complex at Shin-Sapporo.
18. Sapporo Science Center
Cost: Adults pay a separate fee for the exhibition rooms (¥800) and planetarium (¥550). Free for children aged 15 and under.
The Sapporo Science Center is an interactive museum where visitors can explore hands-on exhibits that bring science to life.
It also features a state-of-the-art planetarium, offering immersive shows and stunning views of the night sky, making it a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
19. Hill of the Buddha
Location: 2 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
The hill of the Buddha is around 40 minutes-1 hour from the center, depending on whether you’re driving or taking public transport. This attraction is unlike anything else in Sapporo, with a mini Stonehenge, Moai statues and the staggering buddha head that can be seen grazing the ground from a big distance.
It’s actually incredible to see during all of the seasons, but perhaps during the summer months it’s extra special as the approach to the buddha’s head becomes carpeted in thousands of lavender plants and the air is filled with its beautiful scent.
There’s also a souvenir shop and cafe/restaurant on site so you can grab a snack or lunch before heading on for the day.
20. Ferris Wheel
Cost: ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for kids.
Set in the bustling Susikino area is the Noria ferris wheel, whilst it’s open from 11am each day, seeing the city lit up at night really does create an incredible viewing experience.
The ferris wheel is set on a 78m high roof, giving you the best glimpse of the city, whilst enjoying a gentle ride. The ferris wheel is at the top of a building which has over 30 shops and restaurants so you could spend one evening just at this complex during your stay.
21. Firework Festivals
During the summer, fireworks (hanabi) shows are everywhere, whilst most are paid events, each year they host The Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival (Toyohira River Fireworks) which are completely free to watch.
Firework shows in Japan are nothing short of amazing and you’ll often find that during the paid events that they have a whole host of food and drink stalls, or they’ll be space to setup a blanket and picnic for the night.
Kid Friendly Restaurants In Sapporo
There’s also plenty of kid friends restaurants to choose from around the city, generally small ramen shops are difficult to take young kids as the limited seats (and no kids menu) can be an issue, but here are some of the best to choose from that cater from young to older kids, and that have dedicated kids menus;
- Bikkuri Donkey
- CoCo Ichibanya
- Coco’s Restaurant
- Gusto
- Nemuro Hanamaru (conveyor belt sushi)
- JS PANCAKE CAFE
- Wako (Stellar Place 6F)
If you have any other questions about attractions or things to do whilst you’re in Sapporo, let us know in the comments below!
